Ever struggled to get a good finish when painting furniture? Well, you’re not alone.
For the longest time, I thought painting on furniture was a difficult process, and could never quite figure it out. I did not know how to prepare the wood or the surface I wanted to paint on. It was kind of a mystery to me. And with all the different paint products out there, I was pretty overwhelmed.
So, to get more clarity on the process, I followed various Instagram accounts on DIY and craft - my favourite is @attic.furniture.qld and I love what she does.
But as inspiring as Instagram is, it does not reveal all the mysteries!
So you could say my journey really began when I started visiting paint stores…
Asking questions like, “What paints do you have to paint on furniture?”
This kind of question would get me a blank look from the staff member I was talking to, and they would usually lead me to an aisle full of hundreds of different paints and then disappear. It made me feel hopeless and frustrated.
I visited store after store in Sydney, asking the same questions, but I was greeted again and again by the disinterested look of someone who’d rather be at home watching Netflix.
All this time I was seeing all these amazing paint colours on Instagram, but I could not find anything like them in the stores.
The frustrating mystery continued.
Then one day I had the idea to ask the people behind the Instagram accounts I was so obsessed with about what paint they use. I wish I’d thought of this at the start! (But hey, all journeys are more or less worth taking… even when you end up just knowing what not to do next time.)
I asked, they answered.
The instagrammers told me, “The paint you want is called FUSION Mineral Paint.”
I looked into and researched it. And I really liked what I found, as you’ll get why in a minute.
FUSION Mineral Paint is a family run business. Originally, founders Scott and Loree started in the 80's in Canada as a brand called Homestead, which is still running as an independent manufacturer.
These days, the business is run by their daughter Jennylyn, who has been helping and involved since she was 5 years old. I reckon that’s one of the main reasons why I dig this business. I read all about Jennylyn and what her values are, and the way she runs the business strongly resonated with me.
Fusion Paint is so easy to use. It took them 10 years to refine this paint, and it clearly shows in the quality. It is an environmentally conscious formulation, zero VOCs (volatile organic compounds), superior durability, and an easy one-step application with very little preparation time.
My mind basically exploded after I read all this.
I ended up going to White Mica (another kick-ass family run business) to buy my first bucket of FUSION.
Reema and her husband at White Mica were amazing in helping me get set up.
I went home and started painting, but the brush I was using was leaving brush strokes and wasn't covering the surface quite well.
I went back to White Mica to ask for advice and I left with a beautiful brush.
Pictured above: Some of the paints and brushes I use.
This brush cost me $35. At first I thought, “Wow it’s a bit expensive for a paintbrush, but let’s see.”
And as soon as I used it, OMG what a difference, my brain exploded again!
It literally felt like spreading butter. The coverage and brush strokes were out-of-this-world amazing.
If you want my advice, I definitely recommend spending $$$ on a GOOD brush. And obviously, good paint too!
If you’re as excited about great paint as I am, check out FUSION’s YouTube channel with tips and how to’s.
If you would like to read more about FUSION mineral paint click here also full story about Jennylyn click here.
I recently upcycled a barstool that I got from Reema, the lady who runs the store I mentioned earlier where I bought my mineral paint and brush. It was just sitting in her shop after she picked it up on the street.
The frame was still in good shape but the seat needed a replacement. So I put a brand new foam and covered it with a heavy commercial satin that I got from Bev’s Remnant. Then I topped it with a handmade iron-on patch from Portugal.
First, I stripped the cover and sand down the frame. Once I achieved the desired coursed finish, I started painting it with Fusion Mineral in Coal Black. It was a messy job but the result is stunning! BOBINEK's Saturday Brunch Stool looks so chic and classy and is a perfect addition to your kitchen counter or mini bar at home!
Some of these products also have FUSION Paint on them and are still available on my website!
Berrina Round Ottoman, shop here.
And Vic Dreaming Ottoman, get it here.
Other products with Fusion Mineral Paint that were already sold are posted on my Instagram page. Check out this Mint Breeze bench that will surely add a summer vibe to any spot it'll be placed. Another one is a lovely bench seat called Lazy Sunday that has a Scandinavian motif fabric and baby blue frame, a pouffe I got from Chifley painted the frame with Fusion's "Park Bench" and paired with a printed design.. these and more! Just visit my IG for more design inspo!
By the way, I do not need to prime the surface before I use the paint, and I don’t need to seal it either. There is no need to sand down the surface. It does not smell. On top of that, the colour options are amazing. As if it couldn’t get any better, FUSION Mineral Paint can be used on nearly any surface.
This isn’t a paid promotion, it’s simply an honest review of what I think may be the best paint in the whole entire world.
If you like furniture painting, you will surely love to do an ottoman workshop with me too! I'll introduce you to upholstery techniques and proper furniture painting using Fusion paint, and then you'll take home the ottoman you created. Workshops will run on Saturdays. Private classes during the week are also available from April.
Happy painting! If you get yourself some FUSION Mineral Paint, let me know what you think!